Real Estate Investing in Canton, North Carolina (28716)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Haywood County • Population: 16,216 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28716 (Canton, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 17.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Canton, NC (28716)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $289,765
Avg Monthly Rent $1,658
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,261
% Renters 26.4%

Market Analysis: 28716 Canton

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Canton's 28716 ZIP reports signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $290K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 28716 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 28716 and stronger Canton ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 28716 ZIP's population of 16,216 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

The 28716 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Canton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,658/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Asheville, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Asheville, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28716

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$90,124/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $251,454 $1,370 3.9% +8.8% $125,727
3BR $321,398 $1,760 3.9% +9.4% $107,133
4BR $360,496 $2,320 4.6% +9.9% $90,124

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$316K$274K$231K$189K$147K$105KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,817$1,769$1,721$1,673$1,625$1,577Sep 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28716 Compare?

Metric 28716 Canton Asheville, NC North Carolina
Home Value $289,765 $289,765 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 3.7% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,658 $1,658 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28716? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 28716 (Canton, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.7%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Asheville, NC metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
72%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $289,765
Monthly Rent $1,658
Price-to-Rent 14.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 8.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
17.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28716

Population: 16,216

💰 Median Household Income
$55,261
This area
$55,261
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.4%
This area
26.4%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.0%
This area
22.0%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.1 years
This area
43.1 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.5%
This area
17.5%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.7%
Other/Mixed 7.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.1%
Black/African American 1.0%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.1%
This area
23.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.9%
This area
11.9%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 28716

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$13,613 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Bethel Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
528 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,613 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Meadowbrook Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
207 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,613 Per Student
B Good

Canton Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
493 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,613 Per Student
B Good

North Canton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
326 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,613 Per Student
B Good

Pisgah High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
908 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,613 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 517 Off-Campus Students
C
Haywood Community College
1,260 students · 7.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 517 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors consider Canton, NC?

Investors tracking Canton, NC will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $290K median home values and $1,658/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting even-keeled returns.

What is it like being a landlord in Canton, NC?

Rental owners in Canton, NC deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Canton, NC?

Rent in Canton, NC is around $1,658/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $290K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What strategy should investors use in Canton, NC?

For Canton, NC, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Can I house hack in Canton, NC?

For house hackers, Canton, NC is a challenging. The $1,658/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $290K property.

You know 28716 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28716 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 28716 ranks in Asheville, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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